Cyprus revises water desalination plans due to improved reservoir levels

The authorities of Cyprus are reviewing their strategy to combat water scarcity following an improvement in reservoir levels at the beginning of 2026. One of the key decisions is the effective cancellation of the floating desalination plant project in Germasogeia.

Reportedly, the reasons for reviewing the project were the high cost of the plant and the increase in water reserves following significant rainfall and water inflow into reservoirs since January of this year. The Ministry of Finance deemed the project economically unviable under the current budgetary conditions.

The floating plant in Germasogeia was planned to produce up to 20,000 cubic meters of water per day — about 6.6 million cubic meters per year. However, this project has now been excluded from the government's immediate plans.

At the same time, the Water Development Department warns that abandoning the new plant could create additional uncertainty in water supply, especially against the backdrop of the expected decommissioning of some existing desalination capacities, including the Moni plant, whose operating life ends at the end of 2026.

Against this background, the authorities are considering alternative measures to provide agriculture with water. At the request of the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, specialists have prepared several scenarios for increasing water volumes for irrigation.

Among the proposals are maintaining water supplies within the Southern Conveyor Project at least at last year's level, as well as increasing volumes for the Paphos Major Irrigation Project by 10–20%. Similar options are being considered for the Polis Chrysochous area.

Experts note that final decisions will depend on the further situation with rainfall and the level of water reserves in reservoirs during the summer period.